"What is the luminous phenomenon known by the name of the Maracaybo lantern that is seen every night on the seaside as well as in the interior of the country [? Does lightning strike ocean more than land? Why they annually attract thousands of tourists, where did the name come from and what legends are associated with these lightnings we tell in a new article Thats about 28 lighting strikes every minute enough energy to power 100 million light bulbs. Here, where the Catatumbo River empties into South America's largest lake, an " everlasting lightning storm " rages continuously for up to 10 hours a night, in exactly the same place, 260 . We can't keep all that lighting in a bottle, so here are 10 essential facts about the astounding phenomenon. Historians have found little evidence of the revolutionary icon. Muoz, . G., J. Daz-Lobatn, X. Chourio, and M. J. For six weeks beginning in January of that year, no signs of the lightning events were observed in the skies over the Lake Maracaibo. Residents in a village built on stilts are the closest observers of the electrifying phenomenon, placing them in the most danger. In Venezuela, nature's most electrifying lightning show - BBC Get information and guides to help you find and use NASA Earth science data, services, and tools. "[22], The phenomenon is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the state of Zulia, which also contains Lake Maracaibo, and is mentioned in the state's anthem. Efforts are also being made to declare the site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is not uncommon for the appearance of lightning to be followed by storms and whirlwinds. Tired of Ordinary Travel? This is the Most Dangerous Tourist Place in Tourists often are amazed at the sights of the Northern Lights. Associates Program, affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means He used datafrom seventeen years of study gleaned by the Optical Transient Detector on the OrbView1 Satellite and the Lightning Imaging Sensor on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Satellite. Known as Relmpago del Catatumbo, the storm is located where the Catatumbo River flows into Lake Maracaibo. There are 250 lightningstrikes per sq. Known as Catatumbo lightning or the beacon of Maracaibo, the electrifying natural phenomenon does not mess around, striking constantly for around half of the days in a year. Universidad del Zulia. The film shows how the fisherman of the village used the lightning to illuminate their night fishing trips, but that environmental degradation, political conflict, and economic decline are turning Congo Mirador into a ghost town. This makes the conditions especially ripe for lightning. The Truth About Venezuela's Catatumbo Lightning - Grunge Seasonal prediction of lightning activity in North Western Venezuela: Large-scale versus local drivers. Humidity has been thought to have played a role, as the longest recorded pause of lightning activity, in 2010, coincided with a severe drought in Venezuela caused by an El Nio weather event. #fca_qc_quiz_63124.fca_qc_quiz button.fca_qc_button { The rayo del Catatumbo (Catatumbo lightning), also known as the Faro de Maracaibo (Maracaibo beacon), puts forth an average of 232.52 flashes of lightning per square kilometer each year. All thunderstorms follow a formula: rapidly rising warm air collides with moist air. Read our, Flickr user derekskey (via Creative Commons). This phenomenon has had age-old recognition, and was actually used by sailors as a means of navigation. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. The ensuing imbalance of charges leads to lightning strikes, where the charges zigzag to the ground or within the cloud in the form of lightning. Trabajo Especial de Grado. Rachael is a writer and digital content producer at IFLScience with a Zoology degree from the University of Southampton, UK, and a nose for novelty animal stories. Extreme Sports - What You Need to Know About Wingsuit Flying Data set available online from NASA's Global Hydrometeorology Resource Center (GHRC) DAAC, Huntsville, AL, U.S.A. doi:10.5067/LIS/LIS/DATA201. To do that, you need a lot of years of data, Muoz said. Brazil. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. It originates from a mass of storm clouds over nearby mountains, and occurs during 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour. An 8.8-magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami was considered to be associated with the disappearance of the Catatumbo lightning during this time. It can illuminate areas up to 400 km away, with the sound of the accompanying thunder not reaching anyone but the immediate witnesses. #fca_qc_quiz_63124.fca_qc_quiz div.fca_qc_question_response_item.correct-answer { Thunderstorm is one of the most dangerous and spectacular atmospheric When Amy Fallon travelled to Uganda, she did not expect to see a familiar face staring back at her outside a restaurant. The Catatumbo River, where the water flows into Lake Maracaibo, is home to one of the greatest spectacles of the natural world: a never-ending lightning storm that electrifies the sky for up to nine hours each day, up to 300 nights of the year, with lightning striking up to 28 times per minute. Known as. She enjoys reading fiction novels, listening to music and binge watching media content (also, making references about said media content). Can Newborn Babies Swim Better Than Adults? For generations locals have been captivated by the regions dramatic light show, with lightning storms raging for about 10 hours a night, about 260 nights a year. This atmospheric ruins are truly a sight to behold. Lake Maracaibo basin is surrounded by mountains that trap warm winds coming off the Caribbean Sea. Using data collected between 1997 and 2015 by NASAs lightning image sensor on its Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite, researchers identified the Catatumbo zone of Lake Maracaibo as the lightning capital of the world. The Catatumbo Lightning is not only not eternal, but its tenure above the Catatumbo River Delta has not been eternally unbroken. The exact reason for such high electrical activity in the region is not yet known. Find out more about our policy and your choices, including how to opt-out. Offer subject to change without notice. However, what if lightning wasnt all that uncommon or special? Processes occurring deep within Earth constantly are shaping landforms. Orange and red lightning above Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela produce a spectacular phenomenon that is visible for more than 500 km. As NASA notes, being around all this lightning is not safe for the Venezuelan residents. Are You At Greater Risk Of Getting Hit By Lightning If You Have A Piercing? [23], Some authors have misinterpreted a reference to a glow in the night sky in Lope de Vega's description in his epic, "La Dragontea" of the attack against San Juan de Puerto Rico by Sir Francis Drake as an early literary allusion to the lightning (since in another verse the poet does mention Maracaibo), but it was actually a reference to the glow produced by burning ships during the battle. The Guardian. Catatumbo Lightning is sometimes referred to as Venezuela's "eternal thunderstorm," or the "Beacon of Maracaibo," as it was said to once help ships navigate their way from the country's Maracaibo port. Since 2017, 14 community leaders have been killed in Catatumbo - investigations point to armed groups in nine cases - making it one of Colombia's most dangerous areas for community leaders. And plenty of theories have attempted an explanation. And no matter the productivity level, real and false lightning alarms have hampered about 10 percent of its yearly extraction. #fca_qc_quiz_63124.fca_qc_quiz{ There, warm waters from the Caribbean Sea flow into the lake, where the hot sun draws up moisture into the air and traps it among the slopes. What Would Happen If Lightning Struck Your Airplane In Flight? Its been studied by scientists, including some at NASA, and over a decade of research, weve learned a lot about Venezuelas never-ending Catatumbo lightning. He was tasked with creating accurate maps of the region, including Lake Maracaibo. (Photo Credit : Oscarnav/Wikimedia Commons). Electrifying, isnt it!? The study also speculated that an isolated cause for the lightning might be the presence of uranium in the bedrock. Catatumbo Lightning also goes by the name of the . https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/mar/05/venezuela-lightning-el-nino, Europe's Drought Will Happen Again: Here's How River Cruises Are Preparing, Where to Go in 2023: The Most Exciting Destinations to Explore This Year, Weather in Hong Kong: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in Belize: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in St. Petersburg: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in Argentina: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in Austin: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in Montana: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature, Weather in Beijing: Climate, Seasons, and Average Monthly Temperature. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. The water droplets continue to grow in size until they are too heavy for the grey cloud to hold up. She is always up for a discussion on a range of topics, including the seemingly mundane ones. The extreme heat emanated by a flash of lightning can make the surrounding air up to five times hotter than the surface of the sun. Energtica de los relmpagos del Catatumbo. Although lightning can strike anywhere on the surface of the earth, there are environmental factors that make some areas more prone to lightning strikes than others. Do You Feel The Movement Of A Ship When Youre Onboard? } Universidad del Zulia. In 2010 a severe drought caused by El Nio stopped the constant lightning storms, worrying the areas residents.